When it comes to wine, Giuseppe Sportelli describes Puglia as a “philosophy, a landscape, a testing place, an experience.” Located in southeastern Italy, Puglia is a hot, sun-swept region which forms the famous high-heel on the “boot of Italy”. Its landscape is mostly flat terrain. Sea breezes blow over the land from three sides — […]
Month: May 2014
Wines add zest to summer Tapas parties
The Wine Goddess put on a Tapas party this past weekend, which coincided with my 62nd birthday. She insisted it wasn’t a birthday party, since it had been planned weeks ago with neighborhood friends and yet I was extremely satisfied: a birthday cake glowing with lit candles mysteriously appeared along with other luscious desserts. I […]
Author Frances Mayes's new hit: Tuscan wines
Under the Tuscan Sun author Frances Mayes is now endorsing a line of seven Italian wines under her own label. While I haven’t tasted the wines, the classy artistic bottle designs (what marketing!) are sure to make these big sellers. Mayes will be signing books and bottles on Saturday, May 17, 11 a.m. to 3 […]
Capturing wine and soul of Portugal, Spain
Portugal and Spain have a lot more in common than the Iberian Peninsula: they’re turning out quality wines at affordable prices. At a recent wine tasting, I was pleasantly surprised by the freshness of recent vintages and the dramatic consumer-friendly pricing. Portugal is famous for its port wines from the Douro River valley in the […]
The hunt for red Barolo (cheap and good)
The April issue of Wine Spectator magazine touts the 2010 Barolo produced in Italy’s dynamic Piedmont region as a “classic, elegant” vintage. Also, I recently received in the mail a newspaper article written by British wine expert Jancis Robinson titled “Barolo Steps Up.” (Thank you George B. for sending it to me.) Robinson writes how […]
Run for the Rosés on Kentucky Derby Day
Saturday is Kentucky Derby Day and while many horse-racing fans will be sipping mint juleps, wine lovers shouldn’t feel left out. It’s a great day to break out the pink- and salmon-colored rosés, tune into the race and hold a spring party. I have a new appreciation for rosé, especially the dry and semi-dry versions […]
